Visiting Denver in March - looking for easy day hikes

[TenSpeed]

id like to check out some spots with nice views within an hour or 2 of the denver area, not sure if it will be too snowy to explore with regular boots

any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[mrosenlof]

March can be nice or it can be snowy. It's historically the snowiest month here, but when the sun is shining it is usually very nice. Normally a March storm clears out and melts pretty quickly down here on the plains.

Higher elevations will still have snow. There are some nice hikes along the foothills in the Boulder open space and mountain parks. A number of trails start from the Chautauqua park on Baseline road. The City of Denver's Red Rocks park has some trails and is a famous outdoor music venue.

 

[TJer]

Who cares if its snowing, or has had snow, the ideal places for photography will be just incredible with snow or without! First place would be Arrowhead Golf Course which is due southwest, just the other side of Chatfield Reservoir. Yeah, I know doesn't sound like much but it's incredible. Not just that but there's a beautiful park immediately adjacent to it called Roxborough State Park. Both the Park and Golf Course are covered with the most incredible monoliths and geologic formations imaginable. Really close by to these is another great hike called Platte Canyon State Park which has all kinds of mountainous views including wildlife like Mule Deer, Elk, Rocky Mountain Sheep that can be seen at near spittin' distances! Please keep your safe distance from these animals though as they can be quite unpredictable and dangerous. Access to the Colorado Trail can be had there at Roxborough State Park. I'm familiar with these locations because I'd lived there for close to 20 years and only just recently moved. Another fantastic place is due west of Denver proper called Red Rocks Park that is again loaded with amazing geologic structures, critters and an concert hall built into the rock formations! Both areas are covered with ample trails and the like to give you access to some wonderful photographic opportunities, especially the obvious ones like sunrise and sunset! Another nice spot is Castlewood Canyon State park which is southeast of Denver, gorgeous with trails everywhere! Further south on the other side of the US Air Force Academy is Garden of the Gods which is just outside Colorado Springs but well worth the trip! If you have access to a GPS or an Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer by Delorme, you'll find a tremendous wealth of info like this that will locate then get you there and back safely. Hopefully the folks you'll be with will have one or the rental car you get will have one ... Hope this helps! Tried to hit the high notes for you, lol.

 

[pbromaghin]

Another vote for Red Rocks! Roxborough Park in the SW corner of the metro is beautiful with red rock formations. Daniels Park in Castle Pines North has gorgeous views of the mountains, about 100 miles north to south. The Peak to Peak Highway, up out of Golden, through Nederland and on to Boulder or Lyons is fantastic. All along the front range there are innumerable trails of varying difficulty and length. Here are some a good links:

http://dayhikesneardenver.com/
http://www.westword.com/arts/ten-great-summer-hikes-along-the-front-range-6770471

Or just go to the google and enter "front range trails".

 

[tim48v]

Our favorite for "flatlanders" is Lily Lake, near Estes Park. Right on the highway, easy access and the trail around the lake is flat. Rather important if you're not used to 8000' elevations.

Of course, you can't go wrong with the Garden of the Gods down in Colorado Springs. Also, check out the cog rail to Pike's Peak.